HYDERABAD The people of Sindh celebrated a unique cultural day - the 'Sindhi Topi Day' - on Sunday for the first time in the history of the province.

The Sindhi Topi is regarded as one of the most essential parts of the Sindhi culture and is usually offered to guests, along with a traditional Sindhi Ajrak, as a token of respect.

The call for the Sindhi Topi Day received an enthusiastic response everywhere as tens of thousands of people of all languages sporting Sindhi Topis and Ajraks took to the streets to express their sentiments and love with the Sindhi culture.

The Sindhi Topi Day has been observed following calls from a Sindhi television channel and the PPP in response to uncalled for remarks about the Sindhi Topi by an anchorperson of a private television channel.

The call mobilized people of all languages who started purchasing Sindhi Topis all over Sindh. Such enthusiasm from the masses has made history as people purchased the Sindhi Topi in large numbers on premium prices resulting in stock-outs of the cap in the market.

The day gave the look of a mass celebration as people were found dancing on the famous song by Ahmed Mughal called 'Sindhi Topi ain Ajrak Wara jian,' since the morning.

Large rallies were organised in various cities including Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Nawabshah and Larkana.

A big rally of Pakistan Peoples Party, jointly led by Members PPP Federal Council Kazi Asad Abid and Pervez Ansari, Sindh Minister for Fisheries and President PPP Hyderabad District Zahid Bhurgari, Amanullah Sial and others was taken out from Qasimabad, Hyderabad, which passed through various roads and culminated in front of the Hyderabad Press Club.

Another motorcade rally of the Awami National Party (ANP), taken out under the leadership of Asadullah Mehsud culminated in front of the Hyderabad Press Club where the participants of the rally expressed their affections with traditional Sindhi culture.

A ceremony was also arranged at the office of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Hyderabad Zone, where Sindhi Topis and Ajraks were presented to journalists.

Other parties and social welfare organizations including Jeay Sindh National Party, Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM), Mehran Falahi Sangat and Marvi Association also brought out rallies showing their affection with the Sindhi Topi.

Hand-woven Sindhi Topis are a product of hard labour and made in almost every district of the province. However, the Sindhi Topi produced in Tharparkar, Umerkot, Sanghar and other districts of the Mirpurkhas division are rated better and fetch a better price.—APP